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Injuries? Russell Westbrook is not a winner? Anthony Davis can't be an alpha? LeBron James can't beat father time? Bad coach? Poor roster construction?

Several/all of the above.

I've really only seen their loss to Boston, but I'd say probably their roster. It's pretty weak. Got two studs, one possibly good (Westbrook) who may figure it out at some point, a few young guys (Monk, THT) and a bunch of old guys who can barely play or stay healthy. They really don't have many guys that can consistently defend. Not to mention they don't have a lot of shooting.

I don't think they'll make the playoffs if either LeBron or AD misses significant time. I'd be surprised if they won a playoff series.

I'm missing the option: Lebron James for pressuring Rob Pelinka to trade for Russell Westbrook

None. There is no blame here.

SUPERVILLAIN wrote:Injuries? Russell Westbrook is not a winner? Anthony Davis can't be an alpha? LeBron having a big decline? Bad coach? Poor roster construction?

Who's to Blame?

The Westbrook trade is playing out the way alot of folks though it would. The fact that Washington is actually thriving with the Lakers depth is only further confirmation. With that said, I can't really fault Westbrook himself per se, it's really more on Pelinka for making the trade in the first place.

Plenty to go around

Pelinka for allowing himself to be browbeaten by Lebron into putting together a team of geriatrics. Melo was a good signing, but guys like Ariza, DJ, Rondo, Bradley, and Ellington are completely washed. Westbrook isn't washed but he's garbage off-ball and everyone has known it for a decade now.

It's the Westbrook effect. He's compromised their entire defense.

Combination of Bad roster, injuries and coaching.

The thing is vogel is not a good offensive coach but is a wonderfull defensive coach. It was perfect when he first arrived in La because all he had to do was concentrate on the defensive side and let LeBron orchestrate the offense with Davis and shooters.

But now he is left with a pretty weak roster (especially defensively), westbrook, LeBron James in and out...

The roster is badly constructed but also does not fit with Vogel's coaching style.

I will Always be amazed seeing trades turning into disasters that pretty much any poster on this site wouldn't do. I mean why do you want to give 35% of your cap Space to Russel westbrook? Just why ??

Nonethelss, if they just find a way to be healthy for the PO, a lineup of just LeBron + David + gleaguers is still pretty dangerous.

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Its not coaching, thats just the easiest person to blame in these situations.

Pelinka...Wtf??? Its on LeGM

https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2021/9/21/22685880/carmelo-anthony-says-lebron-james-gm-lakers-rob-pelinka-free-agency

Peak LeBron derangement going on in this thread. He’s played 8 games and they’re 5-3 in those games. Of course the team is going to look like trash when the best player has missed 58% of the season. They’ve also been missing several rotation players. But, it’s easier to just spout about ‘LeGM.’

so,,,if lebron chose westbrook over shooting, then it's up to pelinka to get support for lebron

i don't denegrate lebron for choosing westbrook. in his mind he chose to face 21/22 with help at the point rather than shooters. he felt he could overcome lack of shooters more than lack of support in the managing the team. being tuned into his body as lebron is, that was his choice. what i find interesting is that while the talking heads acknowledge the choice of the two they seem unwilling to accept it, as if they know his body better than lebron himself. i'm pretty sure lebron would have chose lillard if dame was there,,,but he wasn't, nor was beal. those two took themselves off the table.

that being said,,,,,is anybody paying attention to what's going on in the league or what! with the timely ot untimely lebron injuries over the past year, would is not be safe to say the decade is over and the nba has moved into the parity of the 20's. i mean are gsw, chi, and the wiz THAT GOOD or does the the league just suck

lebron and ad. westtbrook is the biggest victim always triple double and team boom.

This roster was built with the notion that Vogel + healthy AD/LeBron/Westbrook is title contender.

Westbrook is worse than last season.
AD is trying less harder than normal
LBJ isn’t staying healthy and is getting suspended
Pelinka has made the roster too geriatric.

I’d blame everyone but Frank Vogel but he might get Mark Brown’d.

Ranking them in order:
1. LeBron
2. Coaching
3. Team defense
4. Westbrook TOV
5. Davis general poor defensive play

thebigbird wrote:Peak LeBron derangement going on in this thread. He’s played 8 games and they’re 5-3 in those games. Of course the team is going to look like trash when the best player has missed 58% of the season. They’ve also been missing several rotation players. But, it’s easier to just spout about ‘LeGM.’

5-3 is a 51 win pace over 82 games for a team that's supposed to contend. AD and Russ have played in all of those games and 6 of 8 were at home, 3 of those 5 wins have come vs the tanking Rockets and Pistons, the other 2 came vs fringe playoff teams Memphis and Cleveland. Not great